Dining Room Dreams

Thought I'd share a few dining room photos. Several blog friends seem to be currently working on, or planning out, their cottage dining room makeovers. Like many of us, they're staring at the walls and thinking "what color shall I paint?" The only thing harder than picking wallpaper has to be picking paint - far too many colors - and if you still can't find the right one they can always mix it for you! The thing is though, paint is cheap (unless you just have to order Farrow & Ball from England!) and you can always paint over it if not happy - wallpaper's a bit more difficult.

My paint colors here are Linen White above the chair rail and White Coffee below (both Benjamin Moore). I hung a very subtle border below the crown just to anchor the walls which seemed to fly away left plain.

My dining room has been deep red, then ballroom gold, but a few years ago I returned to these light neutrals which I love. All the woodwork in my house is stained and dh refuses to let me paint it - have to let him have a little say now and then I suppose. I now enjoy it because it enhances the cottage look, especially all the six paneled doors. At one time I wanted to paint the dining room table and chairs - purchased 30 years ago - but am glad I kept this beautiful dark wood as it blends nicely with the crown and chair rail mouldings and is a contrast with the light walls and carpet. Of course I've recovered the chair seats more times than I care to remember.

The Welsh Dresser I purchased unfinished years ago - first I pickled it (if you're around my age you'll remember when that was popular!) so it had that bland look with the knots showing through. When I did this last makeover I decided to paint it. I used Behr's Sneakers flat latex, waxed with Briwax, polished, sanded the edges, waxed again and polished until smooth. A lot of work but it has held up brilliantly and doesn't mark or chip.
I do love painted pieces and found this cabinet a couple of years ago at Greenfront Interiors (Virginia and N. Carolina readers will know this company - great furniture). I love the shade of green and the delicate handpainted flowers.
More green whimsy - this piece of dyed and frayed burlap embellished with torn lace and ribbon - and that amazing Victorian lady named Miss Rosie Boote stitched in silver thread - this was a great find in a local designer's boutique which was closing and selling all the shop fixtures and decorations.
And finally...............for the special person who left an anonymous comment wondering what on earth to do "below the chair rail", here's the answer! Hang embossed wallpaper which goes on easily on a short wall, and paint it. Roll paint on with a lightly textured type roller - very simple and fast. This looks quite white but is actually the White Coffee color, several shades darker than the wall above.
Good luck dining room decorators - whatever you decide to do I'm sure you will love your finished space.